Air circulator



P. L. HAIMS Juhe 9, 1959 (AIR CIRCULATOR Original Filed July 13, 1954 1 I :h\\ \V n h W INVENTOR. HIL/P L. HA/Ms BY aw m 92.0.1;

A I'TORNE Y6 United States Patent AIR CIRCULATOR Philip L. Haims, Cleveland Heights, Ohio (.lontinuation of application Serial No. 443,018, July 13, fig lfigThis application October 17, 1956, Serial No.

4 Claims. (Cl. 230-134) cannot, or prefer not to, subject themselves to the type of air current or blast produced by the conventional fan. Furthermore, an air stream from a conventional fan often prevents use of the fan in an office where there are loose papers that may be disturbed, and, in addition, stirs up loose dirt, etc., which increases the impurities and foreign particles present in the air. This latter action of a conventional fan is particularly objectionable to people suffering from respiratory ailments.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an air displacing apparatus for producing a cool-' ing effect which does not rely on a blast of air.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the character referred to which causes the air to vibrate or pulsate in addition to producing a general but gentle movement of air.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an air displacing apparatus which creates an annular body of compressed air and which pulsates the body to set up airvibrations which radiate outwardly from the apparatus.

Still another object is to provide an air displacing apparatus in which rotating blades cause displacement of air inwardly of the blades and in which air in front of the rotating blades is allowed to spill over to the rear side of the blades, the spill-over preferably being controlled to determine the movement of air displaced by the apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved air displacing apparatus in which a blade is rotated about an axis and includes a blade portion inclined in the direction of rotation with respect to a diametral plane of the axis and in which the blade portion is provided with lips or scoops at its edges extending transversely of the axis of rotation to direct the air inwardly of the blade portion, the blade also including another blade portion in the diametral plane with the latter blade portion having cutouts for permitting spill-over from the front side of the blade to the rear side thereof.

The present invention resides incertain'constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantagm thereof will be apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification' for allmatters shown "therein,whether ornot expressly described, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an air displacing apparatus, with parts cut away, embodying the present invention.

2,889,980 Patented June 9, 1959 Fig. 2 is an elevational detail view of the rotor of the present invention, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rotor of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another modification of the present invention.

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various types of air moving apparatuses and in similar devices, it is particularly useful when embodied in an air displacing apparatus which is designed to be used in homes and in oifices.

Referring to the drawings, the air displacing apparatus shown therein comprises a wire cage member 10 enclosing a fan rotor 11 and a motor 12 for driving the rotor. The cage 10 is shown in Fig. 1 with the upper part thereof cut away, but it will be understood that the cage is substantially cylindrical in configuration with a closed top to prevent accidental contact with the rotor 11.

The motor 12 for driving the rotor 11 is dependingly supported from a pair of horizontal strips 13 extending transversely of the cage 10 and connected to an annular band 14 which forms a portion of the cage. 12 is shown as suspended from the strips 13 by bolts 14' and as having an armature 15 and a field coil 16. The armature 15 has a vertical axis and a vertical armature shaft 17 which is connected to the rotor 11 and which lies along the axis of rotation of the latter. The rotor 11 comprises blades 18, 19 preferably formed from sheet metal. The blades 18, 19 comprise blade portions 18a, 19a joined by a wall 20 which lies in a vertical plane through the axis of rotation of the rotor 11. The wall 20 provides blade portions 18b, 19b of the blades 18, 19, respectively, which extend generally radially of the axis of rotation and the blade portions 18a, 19a extend outwardly from the vertical edges of the blade portions 18b, 19b in the'direction of rotation of the rotor and preferably define an acute angle with the wall 20. In the illustrated embodiment the rotor 11 is illustrated as rotating in a clockwise direction and the inclination of the vertical blade portions 18a and 19a is such that when the blades are rotated clockwise the air displaced thereby is moved in wardly of the outer side edges of the blade portions.

Each of the blade portions 18a, 19a is deflected at its upper and lower edges, which extend generally transversely of the rotor axis and are shown as being substantially horizontal, to form a lip or scoop 22. The scoops 22 cause the air displaced thereby to move inwardly of the upper and lower horizontal edges of the blades 18, 19. It can now be seen that the rotor 11 differs substantially from the conventional fan in that the air is displaced inwardly of the blades or toward the center of the blades rather than outwardly of the blades. Because of this construction masses of compressed air are built up in front of the blades 18, 19 as the latter are rotated.

The rotor 11 is connected to the armature shaft 17 by a sleeve 23 having one end which telescopes over and is fixed to the shaft. The other end of the sleeve has an axially extending slot which receives the wall member 20, the sleeve lying along the longitudinal center line of the wall member 20.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment the wall 20 is provided with upper and lower cutouts 25, 26, the cutouts opening, respectively, into the upper and lower edges thereof. The cutouts 25, 26 allow the air in front of the rotating blades 18, 19 to spill over to the back side of the blades and control the location of an annular body of air which is setup upon the rotation of the blades. This annular body of air is designated in Fig. l by the reference character 27- and encircles the rotor 11 atapproximately its mid point if the cutouts 25, 26 aregof approximately equal depth and size. It is believed that the annular body of air is created by the collision of the air around the apparatus attempting to move into the The motor 3 vacuum which trails the blades 18, 19 and the air which spills over from the front of the blades 18, 19. In any case, an annular body of compressed air will be created by an apparatus embodying the present invention and the location of the body may be controlled by the shape and relative size of the cutouts 25, 26- For example if the cutout 25 is shortened the annular body of air 27 will move upwardly and be located near the upper end of the rotor 11. Conversely, if the cutout 26 is shortened or made smaller, the annular body of air 27 will move downwardly toward the lower end of the rotor 11.

The arrows in Fig. 1 indicate the general air movement for the illustrated apparatus and as shown therein air is drawn into the top and bottom of the apparatus and is expelled to cooperate in forming an annular body of compressed air. Tests have shownthat air moves toward the described apparatus from substant ally all points around the apparatus and that even some air will sift through the compressed air body 27. Consequently the air movement toward the apparatus is a gentle movement which does not produce an objectionable draft and the air issuing from the apparatus has its energy expended in the compressed air body 27 whichdoes not cause a draft to personsin the vicinity of the apparatus since it is normally located very close to the apparatus itself.

In addition to creating the annular body of air 27 the present invention causes the body to pulsate and set up air vibrations which'radiate outwardly from the apparatus. Therefore, while the apparatus produces a gentle movement of air toward the apparatus, it also causes vibration of air whichis readily transmitted to points distant from the apparatus and will-producea substantial cooling effect even though a person in that vicinity may not be aware of the air movement.

While the illustrated embodiment utilizes a pair of blades, it will be" understood that additional blades may be provided. Also the blades may be curved as illus-- trated in Fig, 4 rather than angular as shown in Figs; 1 through 3.

Referring to Fig. 4 a rotor 30 is shown as having four blades 31 having portions 32 extending radially of the axis and blade portions 33 at their radially outward ends which are curved in'the direction of rotation of the rotor to scoop the air inwardly of the rotor. As in the first described-embodiment the blade portions 32 are provided with cutouts 34 similar to the cutouts 25, 26 of the first described embodiment and upper and lower air deflecting portions 35 on theblade portions 33 which correspond to the lips or scoops 22 of the first described'embodiment. Only the upper cutouts 34 and deflecting portions 35 appear in the drawing, it being understood that the blade portions 33 have lower cutouts corresponding to the cutouts 26 and lower deflecting portions 35. Although the cutouts in both of the described embodiments have been shown as square type cutouts, they may be of any shape or configuration.

Although the present invention'has been shown as embodied in a device particularly adapted for use in a closed room, it will be understood that rotors embodying the present invention may be used with various types of apparatuses'for displacing air or for conditioning air and that the invention is also suitable for use in automotive vehicles.

It'can now be seen that the present invention provides fall the ability of those skilled-in the art and the scope of'the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In an air displacing apparatus, a rotor rotatable about an axis in a first direction and comprising first and second blade members displaced from each other about said axis, said blade members each having axially elongated first portions extending outwardly of the axis in a generally radial direction, said first portions each having an outer boundary edge/extending generally parallel to the axis, second portions extending from said edges in the direction of rotation of said rotor and having marginal edges extending transversely of the axis of rotation and intersecting said first portions, and air deflecting members extending from said marginal edges in the direction of rotation of said rotor.

2. In an air displacing apparatus, a rotor rotatable about an axis in a first direction comprising first and second blade member's displaced from each other about said axis, said blade members each having first portionsextending outwardly of the axis in a generally radial direction, said first portions each having an outer boundary edge extending generally parallel to the axis, second portions extending from said edges in the direction of rotation of said rotor and having marginal edges extending transversely of the axis of rotation and intersecting said first portions, and air deflecting members extending from said marginal edges in the direction of rotation of said rotor, said first portions having air passages therein permitting air flow from the leading to the trailing faces of the blade'members.

3'. In an air displacing apparatus, a rotor rotatable in a first direction about an axis comprising first and second blade members displaced from each other about said axis,

saidblade members each having first portions with marginal edges extending outwardly of the axis in a generally radial direction and an outer boundary edge extending generally parallel to the axis, second portions extending from said outer boundary edges in the direction of rotation of said rotor and having marginal edges extending transversely of the axis of rotation and intersecting said first portions, and air deflecting members extending from said marginal edges in the direction of rotation of said rotor, said blades having apertures in said first portions opening into each of the generally radially extending edges.

4. In an air displacing apparatus, a rotor rotatable in a first direction about an axis and comprising a wall member extending outwardly from the opposite sides of said axis in generally radial directions, air deflecting members extending from the outer edges of said wall member in the direct-ion of rotation of the rotor and having marginal edges extending transversely of said axis, and second air deflecting members extending from said marginal edges in the direction of rotation of the rotor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 509,143 Smith NOV. 21, 1893 1,005,572 Parkerson Oct. 10, 1911 1,177,989 Bullock Apr. 4, 1916 1,238,683 Kennedy Aug. 28, 1917 1,243,238 Adamo Oct. 16, 1917 1,321,378 Kohn Nov. 11,1919 1,371,936 Rub'ino Mar. 1 5, 1921 1,501,201 Cates July 15, 1924 1,644,565 Crowe Oct. 4, 1927 1,784,072 Oliver Dec. 9, 1930 1,860,068 Bassler- May 24, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 409,294 Italyv Feb. 10, 1945 

